The Washington critic., 1887-09-22
THE VISITORS GUIDE.
Objects of Interest in and About the
Nationsl Capital.
THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
Parks, Squares, Statues, Gardens and
other Points of Attraction.
THE WAY TO REACH THEM.

Washington has already become the
most attractive city of the country. As
the Capital of the Nation II presents
more objects of interest to the visitor
than any other ON the continent, and u
brief directory of its prominent points
will he Of service to the vast number of
persons who annually resort TO the po.
iitical metropolis For II Is estimated
that over three hundred thousand
strangers pay a visit every year to this
city 10 behold the varied objects of in.
terest which so tliickly stud the his
toriC "Ten Miles Square,
The System or Numbering Houses.
Numbers are displayed over the entrances to
al houses, and tho decimal system, US
adopted Ia Philadelphia ~ uscd-one hun
drCd numbers being allotted to each square
or bluck-Cummunuing at First street west,
running west, FIRST street east, running
east, street north, running north and a
street south, running south, Vhu odd mum
bers are always on the right hand side 20.
ing from the Capitol, and the even numbers
ON the left hand side. The city Is divided
into four quarters or sections, northeast and
northwest, southeast and southwest, the
streets being designated accordingly; those
RAINING north and south numerically, and
those running east and west by the letters
OF the ulIhabut, the dividing lines being
North and South capitol streets, running
on "a line due mort h aud south from the @ ~,
itol and lgst CAPITOL street and u continue
ton ON the same wcsi of the Capitol, run
ming due east and west.
The Capitol.
| This Prcat building X the central point of tho
original District, and Is tho largest ndiiicu
In the country It's rou'rc marks the Me
| ridlHn Ot washington Ihe middle portion,
| Immediately under the dome Is the part
| first built II wug partially destroyed by the
| British In 1871, but was completely restored
1.4 rt.f D.
| remains OF Washington were intended 10 bc
| placed, the Library the Bptuuda, the old
| Representatives Hal, now the Gallery OF
Statuarv and the old Scnntc Chamber. now
the supreme Courtroom The old supreme
| Court room, IN the first story, Is now OCcu'
| pied by the Law Branch Of the Library.
The cornerstone of the Capitol extension =
| the north mud south wings-wns luid july J,
| 1851, Daniel Webster delivering tho GRAFTON
| of the occasion from the balcony OF the
| Library. The south wing contains the
| House Of Representatives. and tho moth
| wing the Senate Chamber. ThcrOtundu isdi-
| tnguished for rs historic paintings, for the
| famous bronze doors, with their bi-
rCicfs, and for Brumidi's ircscoiug-. In the
| Hall of Statuary are the natural pictures Of
| Potomac marble, representing faces of cor
| tain American stntesmen-a picturesque
freak OF nature. From tho little rotunda,
| Immediately north of the great rOtunda, the
staircase to the top of the dome begins IT.
| winding way. From the top OF the dome, OF
as far as the visitor can ascend, tho view
| bl lIt NlIlhAllNluE country - Ilh-ullt'Nli
| The Capitol grounds. which formerly were
| hOmely and formal in appearance, have
| been transformed into q beautiful
| park and are now most exquisitoly beau.i
| iul. The east base of the Capitol Is s1lg
feet above ordinary low tide In the Potomac
The total height from east base 10 the top
| of the temple covering the dome Is 2ss feet
| the statue of the Goddess of Liberty, l0lf
feet, making the total height to the crest OF
the statue 3Oi1G feet. This crest IS 1860 feet
higher than tho west gate of the grounds
and 891 feet above low tide In the Potomac
or 2is feet lower than the apex of the Wash
ington Monument, which is Immediately
west. The building l. IJi feet long by 81
wide, and covers 81 acres. II Is the finest
and largest public building IN the world
and IN many respects the ClstlieSt and
| handsumcst II il moreover the growth OF
less than Ccntury-a fact which adds tC
| It's beauty and interest. The original Capt.
| iol, or centre building, is nm imitation
| though not a slSvish one, OF the MaisOr
Carree at Ni iEmes. The view from the wes
portico at night, when the lamps are lit IL
the public grounds and the lights of the cit
| illuminate the darkness Il one of the mos
beautiful and picturesque In the world and
Is well worth journey Of thousand mile